> The Amulet of Anubis
>  by DemonWriterX
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

> The unexpected
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Daring do and the amulet of Anubis 
Ch.1


It was unexpected, finding Ahuizotl in A.K. Yearling's own humble cottage. Though her name was just a cover for the writer, who was secretly an avid adventurer and archeologist. She made a living writing her adventures, under the alias A.K. Yearling, under the works of fiction to keep her true name and identity, Daring Do, secret from her enemies. Yet, standing before her in her living room, was one of her bitter and most dangerous enemies.
Ahuizotl. 
It was unexpected.
Throughout her career, she had made sure that nopony knew where she lived, not even her publisher. She cursed herself mentally, now having to find another place to live. Ahuizotl's presence gave Daring Do a sense of a flight or fight response. She took the second option. She threw open her cabinet door, that hanged on the wall behind her, and grabbed her leather whip- her weapon of choice. She held it close to her, ready to fight for her life against her hated enemy. The one who tried to kill her in his methodical traps, the one who sadistacally tortured her, going as far as to break her right wing. She couldn't fly for a month. 
He stood in his place in the middle of the room, not flinching at the sight of her weapon. He could unarm her in an instant. He was larger and stronger, which are some of the reasons why he was the leader of his tribe of blood-thirsty warriors. But he was not here to kill his rival.

"I need your assistance," he said slowly, as if not believing the words that came out of his mouth. Daring Do tightened her grip on the handle of the whip. She whipped her glasses off to eye him carefully and looked behind him, expecting to see a certain white cat fly towards her to claw her eyes out. She blinked as her grip loosened. He had none of his deadly cats with him: the tiger, the lynx, the panther, the leapord, even the White House cat, were not there. Ahuizotl never went anywhere without them. 

"Where are they?" she asked lowly, clutching her whip tightly again, wondering if it was another one of his traps. She imagined herself surrounded by his tribe-ponies, their spears and arrows ready to impale her. 

"I did not bring them-" he answered. "I came on my own, peacefully."

"Peacefully, my flank!" she spat. "How did you find out where I live?" She demanded. 

"I followed your scent." He lifted up his hand-tail which was clenched into a fist. She recoiled her whip and snapped it instinctively, letting out a loud crack. He paused, and slowly reached his tail out towards her. His fingers opened, dropping a piece of green cloth on the floor. She took a step back, her heart rate slowing down as he retracted his tail back behind him. She looked at the cloth; it looked like it was torn from a piece of clothing, one far too recognizable to her. It was a piece of her camo vest. "I recieved it from our last battle when you stole The Eye of Hera from me," he said bitterly. 

"The last time I checked, you stole it from her tomb," she said accusingly. "Why are you here?...Want to finish me off yourself?" 

"I have no malicious intentions to harm you..." he began. "At least not today; I need your help Miss Do." 

"What makes you think I'll help you?" She questioned.

"Hear my pleas... please," he said in an almost pleading tone, but gruff enough to not sound weak. She blinked at him and slowly set down her whip, but did not let go of it. 

"Fine..." she growled. "Say it." 

"There is a killer in my tribe," he began darkly. 

"A killer in a group of violent warriors?" She questioned. "...ch'! I figured that was a common occurance." His eyes narrowed at her, his lips pressed in annoyance and irritation. 

"Not as you might think; my tribe ponies follow and are loyal only to me... for one of them to go against me, to kill one of our brothers- it is unthinkable... without my blessing," he replied bluntly.

Her brow arched. She wasn't sure what was more horrifying; a pony murdering others, or the thought that Ahuizotl would allow permission. Yet, from the years she had come to know her enemy, he was right. No pony in his tribe would disobey him, either in fear or in respect. Their loyalty to him was deep enough for them to give their lives to their leader. Just a hint of disobedience resulted in immediate incarsaration or death- under the hands of Ahuizotl. Luckily no such thing had happened. Until now... if what he is saying is true. 

"Why-" she started, as she walked up to her desk that held her binary typewriter. She opened her drawer, taking out a glass bottle of pineapple juice and placing it on the desk along with two shot glasses, and poured in the yellow liquid. "-do you think I'll help... you?" 
She gulped down her drink and let out a sniff. Pineapple helped her calm her nerves. She shook the other glass at Ahuizotl. "Care for a shot?"

He let out a smirk.

"You doubt me, Miss do?" he asked. She gave him a half-way smile.

"Of course not, Ahuizotl~" she gently said. He let out a small scoff and tilted his head towards the drink. 

"Why the drink?" 

"I'm just being a polite house guest." 

"I see." He nods letting out a small chuckle. Daring shrugged her shoulders laughing along with him. His laughter ceased and gave her a glare. She stopped, her grip tightening on her whip, intently focusing on a range of options to defend herself. His eyes wandered up and down her, until falling to the bottle and shot glass.

"I am no fool, Miss Do," he began gruffly. "From my life in the rainforest, I know what pineapple juice does to a pony if given more than... two shots- you want the truth out of me, Miss Do?" 

She bit the inside of her cheek and set the glass back down on the desk. 

"You've lied to me before," she coldly states. He let out a toothy grin in agreement. He put his hand out towards her. She gave him a wary look as he turned his palm faced up. 

"I will need the bottle." 

She countinued to stare at him, looking straight into his yellow eyes for any hint that he might make a grab at her. She took the bottle in her hoof and placed it firmly on his palm. His left hand shot out grabbing her right hoof that held her whip. She froze, finding his face and inch away from her.

"Tch, Tch, tch..." He clicked. "So many openings, Miss Do." She held her breath as he let out another one of his chuckles. Deep and arrogant. She gave him a glare and flicked her mane back. "I know you are not afraid of me... but I had so many, so many chances to disarm you, to wrap my hand around your little neck and finally do away with you." 

She felt his hand-tail grab the top of her black hat before throwing it aside. She kept her head still as he ran his index finger down her cranium through her hair, imagining her scalp plastered on the wall. She watched him as he closed his eyes and inhaled, taking in her scent. She recoiled, letting out a snarl.

"But I didn't..." He sighed tilting his head at her, he takes the bottle and chugs it down in front of her, until not a single drop was left. He let out a satisfying sigh and crushed the bottle, dropping the shards on the floor. He stretched out his fingers, as his blood fell staining her floors. He gave a small smile at her and shoved her away. She stumbled back, catching her footing. He sat down on all fours, almost cat-like. 

"I need your help because you are the only one with enough intelligence to solve this..." he said with seriousness in his voice. "There is no one else."

"My... is that a compliment?" she asked, taking a step back; from now on she would keep her distance. "Why me? You know me, I am an archeologist, not a detective." 

"But you have the skills of one," he retorted. "You can find the deepest of lost caverns, buried temples that have been lost for thousands of years, artifacts, mummies, and so on, all with just your intelligence." 

"I think logically," she responded; even if what he said was more than true, flattery would not get to her, even if it's the pineapple juice talking. "Give me a riddle, I'll solve it, give me a map, I'll find anything." 

"Then I am giving you this," he growled, his patience thinning. "Two ponies have been killed, and I do not mean by another pony." 

"What do you mean not by another pony?" she repeated slowly. He let out a tired sigh and rubbed his temple. Daring noticed that he had dark circles under his eyes, like he hadn't slept in days. 

"I do not even know myself," he admitted. "It is best if you come and see for yourself." 

"How do I know I can trust you? For all I know, pineapple juice does not effect you. Maybe this is just another one of your tricks- maybe I do go with you only to get speared by one of your tribe-ponies." 

"Hmm- a valid assumption," he mused. "But I am telling the truth, I swear it." He lifted up his hand, in a scout's honor fashion. Until his mood suddenly went dark. "There is a killer in my tribe, that killed two of my brothers, murdered them!" He stated angrily, as he rose. Daring's eyes widened slightly, his large gait blocking her front door. "And I was powerless to stop it!" he said, slamming his fist against the floor. Daring stumbled to the side as her home shook from his fearful strength. She balanced herself as she saw Ahuizotl breathing heavily, trying to calm himself. She knew how he gets when he becomes angry. 

"It..." he emphasized with a hiss. "will kill again... I lost two of my warriors, my comrades, my brothers." She blinked hearing the hurt in his words,  something that she had never heard him speak with. "I do not want to lose anymore of my people... that is why you must come with me, to stop this." 

Daring did not know what to think. He would never ask for her help, yet he stood in front of her, pleading for it. He was desperate. She looped her whip and took off her disguise, revealing her camo vest and pith helmet. She placed the whip on her side. 

"When do we leave?"

> The shadows
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

The Amulet of Anubis

CH 2.  "The Shadows."


Ahuizotl stepped out of Daring Do's cottage. She followed, not giving him the chance to catch her off guard in case he decided to try anything funny. It would be all too easy for him to grab her if she even looked away; with his tail he could easily grab her and take her prisoner in the blink of an eye; she knew from experience from trying to sneak up on him a few years ago. Over the years she had learned to be more wary when it came to Ahuizotl.


As soon as she stepped outside, she came face to face with a member of Ahuizotl's tribe. He was an old stallion, the white tribal paint coating his chest and eyes didn't hide his faded orange fur. His left eye stared menacingly at her, the other was a milky white. Decorating his neck and wrists was an assortment of gold and green glass. With one hoof he held a long staff. Phoenix feathers were attached at the top with a thin line of vine. 


“Who is this?” She demanded, taking a step to the right, “You said that you came by yourself.” she said accusingly. Even if the warrior was an old pony, Ahuizotl’s tribe was ruthless and bloodthirsty; age was insignificant. Besides, it wasn't like Ahuizotl would bring an unable warrior with him. If you let your guard down, they could surely drive a dagger into you before you even knew what hit you.


Ahuizotl pressed his lips into a thin line as he turned back to her. “If you recall, I said that I only came without my cats. I did not say I came by myself.” He replied. “This is my personal advisor: Izel. He is my most trustworthy warrior. He is the only one who knows of my meeting with you.”


Izel bowed to Ahuizotl, only breaking his stoic expression to throw a glare Daring's way. Daring shot him a glare of her own, she had a feeling the old pony didn't like her very much.


She flicked her mane, “Won’t your tribe get suspicious of you and your advisor?”


“As far as my tribe is concerned, it is not in their business to know. No pony questions me or my doings. They only live to obey and follow.” 


“I’m guessing there's no health benefits then?” she said cheekily. Ahuizotl narrowed his eyes, a hint of irritation appearing in them. He turned his head towards Izel and barked a command in their native language. To an archaeologist like Daring Do, who had come to know many ancient languages, it was unfortunate not to know the one Ahuizotl’s tribe spoke. This was however because his tribe used a different dialect, one unwritten of, making it difficult for Daring to understand fully. She only managed to learn three words: food, water and blanket. Useful words to know whenever she was thrown in one of Ahuizotl's dungeons.


At his master’s command Izel dropped the satchel he was carrying on his back. He opened and revealed its contents. Clothing only worn by the mares in Ahuizotl tribe. With the hand on his tail he reached in the bag and tossed the garment to Daring Do. It was a simple blue dress with a dark blue slash in the middle.


“Let me guess, this is my disguise?” she asked picking up the dress as if it was garbage.


"You shall wear these clothes. No one must ever know that you are “The” Daring Do.” he said with sarcasm.


“Is that some kind of compliment, Ahuizotl?” she said unable to hide a small smirk. 


“Take it however you want Miss Do… if boosting your ego helps you do your job better then yes.”


As she picked up the dress, a gold feathered crown fell to the ground. Daring frowned, there was only one group of ponies who wore these...


“You recognize the uniform, no?" She looked up to see Ahuizotl smiling smugly down at her, "You will act as one of my new servants.”


“Lovely...” she started dully. “Do I get a feather duster to match?”


Ahuizotl let out a sniff, “If it is needed.” He replied.


Daring scowled. She couldn't tell if he was being serious or not. 


“My lord…” Izel started hurriedly with a raspy voice. He had a deep voice, but it shook when  he spoke, not in a sense of fear or nervousness, but because his vocal cords did not work like they did when he was younger.


Daring looked at him. “And so he speaks. And here I thought you didn't know Equish.” 


He ignored her as he continued, “We must hurry back to the tribe, it is almost nightfall.”


“Yes,” hummed Ahuizotl. He turned back to Daring, “Change, quickly.” He commanded. She glared at him, but did as she was told. Snatching up the dress, she unbuttoned and folded her vest, and yanked the garment on. She traded her helmet for the crown and she looked exactly like a member of the tribe, minus the face paint.


As if recognizing what was missing, Ahuizotl took a step towards her and took out a dagger. That was skillfully hidden away, something that Daring failed to miss. Her pupils dilated, she watched him carefully for any hint of him trying to harm her but instead he pressed the blade to his right palm and gave himself a slice. 

Droplets of blood hit the earth, but he didn’t wince at the pain. He put out his left hand lifting Daring’s chin roughly up to him, and began tracing the blood over her forehead, drawing a square. She pulled away from him in spite for grabbing her so harshly and put her hoof up, ready to wipe off his disgusting blood. The smell of iron filled her nostrils. 


“Do not touch it-” He said sternly, sounding like a hiss. “That is my symbol, no one would look at you twice when they see this symbol.”


Daring put down her hoof, the blood beginning to dry. 


“What does it mean?” She asked. He let out a dark chuckle. 


“It means, Untouchable….no pony would look at you twice.” 


“How convenient.” she said, now she felt as if she has a contagious disease. Ahuizotl lifted up his wounded hand and pressed it up to his mouth. Giving it a lick. She cringed her muzzle slightly, but notice that when he outstretched his palm, the wound slowly began to heal itself. She tilted her head, her mouth agape slightly in awe. Now she understood how he healed himself so quickly after their battles.  


“Fascinated, Miss Do?” he said, noticing her look. He curled his fingers inward watching as his wound slowly closed itself like a zipper, leaving no imprint or scar. “My kind, can heal with the use of our saliva….consider it as one of the many things you didn’t know about me.”

He looked back up at her and turned towards the forest. 


“Come, we have wasted enough time, the bodies might have obtained flies…”



It was sunset when they arrived. Daring walked beside Ahuizotl as Izel followed from behind. Daring was surprised that he could keep up considering his age. She kept her cool until they arrived at Ahuizotl's camp. There she found at least a hundred tribe ponies. They had small huts built, to fit at least one or two ponies. They separated their jobs into two groups, one group prepare the meal for the night, the other sharpen the weapons. The majority were males, it was rare to find a mare as a warrior but it wasn't long until she passed a group of them in their own side of camp, sharpening their arrows and spears. They all wore a orange tunic, with white face paint, their mane cut shorts and pulled back to look like one of the males. As they walked passed them the mares glanced up to see their leader, a look of respect shined through with a hint of fear, but their eyes glanced down at Daring and she saw the same thing directed at her and they looked away. She notice the same thing from the males, one look and not two. All with the same sense of respect and genuine fear. She had to keep a stern frown when she walked through the camp but inside she felt a sense of pride and power. It felt liberating. 

At the end of the campsite was a larger hut, it looked like a mansion compared to the others. She knew immediately that is belonged to Ahuizotl considering that when they walked up to the door, the same symbol, that was on her cheek was there. Once the trio was inside, Daring found that the floor was covered with fine red rugs that had golden designs, and at the sides sitting on their own beds were Ahuizotl’s precious cats. Their heads immediately shot up getting a whiff of Daring’s scent. The bengal tiger was the first to step down from his  bed, bearing his teeth. Daring held her breath ready for the tiger to come in charging, without giving him a glance, Ahuizotl  gave out a command in his language, making the tiger go back to its place ignoring Daring Do, as if she never came at all. His command also put his other cats at ease, but ears perked ready to hear the next. The trio walked through a set of curtains at the end of the hut. On the other side they found five mares standing at attention, each holding a long staff in their right hoof. Their dress was identical to Daring’s, even right down to the same symbol on Daring’s forehead.


She was immediately taken aback by this. Ahuizotl raised his tail and flicked his wrist. The mares bowed and took their leave, passing Daring as if she were invisible. Ahuizotl walked over to the middle of the room to a large arrangement of pillows. He sat down and faced Daring Do. 


“It is safe to talk now.” he said. Daring relaxed, her face was beginning to hurt from trying to constantly keep a serious composure.


“So what is this, a harem?” she questioned. Ahuizotl let out a deep chuckle. 


“No… consider them as my personal bodyguards when we camp, the mark they bear is called “Untouchable” for a reason. Only the most violent and strong bear it, and so far… it has been females.” he let out another chuckle from the absurdity that none of the males had succeeded. 


“That means, I’m your bodyguard…” she mused. They were far from simple servants. “That must be a dream come true for you.”


“Far from it, I still prefer for you to be a corpse.” He stated bluntly. He moved his right hand towards the left side of the tent. Daring followed and saw a red cloth hanging from the ceiling to the floor. “The bodies are behind.” She blinked at him as he said that and walked up to the cloth. 


The sound of buzzing filled her ears as she pulled back the red. 

The smell hit her, but it wasn't the smell that make her reel back. Her pupils shrank in horror as she lifted her hoof up covering her nose from the smell of rotting flesh and decay. She stared at the two dead ponies, laying side by side. Their faces frozen in agonizing pain, the white of their eyes replaced by blood. Their underbelly had been ripped open far enough that their ribs stuck out like claws reaching upwards. The first one that was laid out before her was a young stallion at least a few years younger than her, with orange fur that was now stained and had lost its’ color making it look like a rust cover. The second, a slightly older and bigger stallion, lay behind the first victim. Their heads were contorted to her direction, their mouths agape in a silent scream. She felt them staring at her. 

She closed her eyes tightly and cursed under her breath. She has been through temples, saw mummies, skeletons, and had even saw her own fair share of dead bodies, but she had never seen them mutilated in such a way.


“Where…” she began dropping the cloth, shielding them from her sight.  “Where did you find them?” she asked, her archeologist nature kicking in. 


“The young one I found a  mile away from the campsite two days ago.” He replied looking to the side, as if not wanting to look at that side of the room himself.  “Alone… I noticed he was gone for a few hours and I went looking for him.”


“By yourself?”


“No, Izel went with me.”


Izel cleared his throat letting out a soft cough before putting himself in the conversation. “We have no idea who was with him that did this.” he shook his head. “He was just a youngling, my lord just... just accepted him as a warrior into our tribe.” Izel let out a shaky breath. Daring frowned slightly, she thought that he might have shed tears but he pulled them back, the stern look of the tribe returning on his face. Ahuizotl looked at his advisor, she could have sworn there was a look of concern in his eyes. 


“That is not important,” Izel continued. “We found him in that way, and the second we found just yesterday evening. I saw him enter the forest, I thought he was merely looking for food for the tribe but...when nightfall came, I told my lord, and we went looking for him and we found him, hidden away in some brush, just a hundred feet away from our tribe. No one… no one heard anything.”


“Do you have any suspects?” Daring asked. 


“No.” Ahuizotl replied. Izel let out a scoff. 


“My Lord, what about your enemies, what about the other tribes?” Izel questioned. 


“Other tribes?” Daring’s ears perked. “That could be one possibility.”


“Nonsense.” Seethed Ahuizotl, shooting a glare at Izel for bringing it up. “We have been in peace since I first came to power, they would never be so idiotic to kill our brothers and risk starting a war.”


“All right,” Daring let out a sigh. “How about here in your tribe, anypony have any problems with them?”


“None.” 


Daring rubbed her temple. No suspects will get her nowhere, she would have to look at the bodies more closely. To find a “smoking gun”, as the saying goes. Something that would lead them straight to the killer. She pulled back at the curtain and held her breath at the young pony, his life cut short. Her eyes lower in contempt towards the killer. The facts she had so far, is that their injuries look the same, they were alone, and they were killed not far away from the camp site. The characteristics of the deaths now is leading her to a serial killer. She turned back to Ahuizotl voicing her opinion. 


“A serial killer?” he repeated slowly. “.....just as I thought.”


“That’s right.” Daring nodded. “I will know more once I look at the bodies more closely.”


“Izel, I am now enacting a curfew, everypony shall be in their tents in an hour once they have eaten, no one goes alone, they must all be in twos.” Ahuizotl commanded, Izel nods in understanding and walks out of the tent. Ahuizotl faced back to Daring.  “Do what you must, my people already know of their deaths, so far...not one has tried to escape since their discovery.” he said lowly. 


“Do you still believe that it wasn't a pony?” she asked pulling back the curtain. She glanced back at Ahuizotl who was staring at the corpses. He let out a soft laugh. 


“It seems like something I would do.” He admitted. 


“Are you confessing?” she said keeping her voice stern. He laid his head down on the pillows, his arms tucking under him like one of his cats laying down. He let out a click with his tongue. 


“Of course not.” He replied calmly. 


“It was you and Izel that found “both” of them.” She pressed. 


“That is because…” Ahuizotl paused. She looked back at him. “They were acting strangely.”


“How strange?”


“Of course, I might be wrong but...it was little things, little things that no one else seemed to noticed… we spar daily, the young one constantly lost against his partners but before his death, he won.”


“And this was strange?” she said turning back to the young pony’s body, she peered into his open cavity as Ahuizotl continued. 


“It was how he sparred, he was new, inexperienced, he was still learning how to wield his weapon and suddenly he was winning every match.” He let out another laugh. “I was so proud of him that day.” He said almost sound like a proud parent, until his tone became darker. “I thought to myself that perhaps another warrior was training him but that is how far my thoughts went. Then- then I saw him enter the forest alone….” 


“This is strange….” Daring muttered.


He looked up at her, “What is it?” 


“His liver is missing.”


At this revelation, Ahuizotl got to his feet and hurried to the body. “Are you certain?” 


“Yes.” She wiped the beads of sweat off her brow with a hoof, “It appears it was removed carefully.” Daring put her hoof to her chin and scrunched her eyes shut. After a few moments of silence she spoke, “If it is a serial killer, it might have took it as a souvenir.”


“It could be cannibalism. It’s not unheard of.” He mentioned.


She blinked, it took a while for her to register what he had said. The humidity of the forest was finally getting to her. Daring shook her head and sat down, she hadn't had a sip of water since they left her cottage. The thick air, combined with the concentrated stench of the two rotting corpses, was giving her a headache. As if he had read her mind, Ahuizotl held out a canteen with his tail for her. She gave it a wary glance, there was no telling what could be in that canteen. It could be poison for all she knew. 


“Drink. You are no use to me dead, Miss Do.” He stated grimly, shaking the canteen at her. The sound of water sloshing inside tempted Daring Do. Take it, her body demanded, but her mind refused to trust him. Her hoof reached out to grab the canteen, but she immediately snatched it back. Ahuizotl shook the canteen once again; she licked her parched lips. It was too much to bear. Without a second thought she snatched the canteen away from Ahuizotl. She curled her dried lips as she tipped the canteen back and drank a few gulps of water. Without a word of thanks, she turned to start inspecting the second victim. 


“What about this one?” She asked as she looked at his open cavity. 


“He was one of the strongest warriors in my tribe. I was seeing him sparring and he was winning over and over; throwing his opponents as if they were nothing but straw. I thought nothing of it…It was only until Izel came and mentioned that he was missing that we went to look for him.”


“This one is different,” Daring began lifting her nose away, the smell of decomposing flesh overwhelming. “He is missing his left lung, another souvenir I bet.” She stepped back letting the curtain fall. “Whoever did this, cut open their body with so much force that it seemed that they had burst from the inside-out.”


“By Xibalba,” Ahuizotl muttered cursing under his breath. “Once I find their killer, I shall do to it as it did to them!” he snarled his fist clenching until his knuckles turned white. 


“I notice that you keep calling their killer an “It”. “ She asked with suspicion. “You know something I don’t?” He jerks his head  at her, shooting her a glare. 


“I call it and “IT” because that is what it is, you have seen what it has done to two of my warriors! your job is to find IT, and mine is to kill IT!” 


“Fine.” She scoffs. “I have already seen enough from the bodies, what are you going to do with them?” 


“Give them a proper burial.” He said with a straightened back, honoring the dead with respect. “They shall be buried with their possessions, and their family they left behind, I shall make sure they are taken care of.” He turned back to his bed laying down to get some well needed sleep, which is exactly what Daring needs. 


“Where do I sleep?” she asked. 


“Untouchables sleep outside.” He stated pointing with his tail. She rolled her eyes. 


“Fine, I like sleeping in trees.” She said heading out the door. His head shot up.


“I do not recommend that.” 


“Why not?” she said stopping in her tracks. 


“Untouchables are earth ponies, as of all of my tribe members, you must keep to your disguise, no pony must know you are a pegasus.” He said sternly. She let out a sigh rubbing her temple, already feeling a throbbing sensation in her brain. Ahuizotl rubbed his chin in thought. “You do not know our language either, we shall pretend that you are a mute...no one in the tribe will give it a second thought. You shall sleep here in my tent.”


“No thanks.” She recoiled. The last thing she wanted is to sleep in the same room with her enemy. 


“And what if the killer goes after you?” he questions with a voice of concern. He had a point there. She narrowed her eyes, turning back at him. 


“I’ll be fine-it seems he goes after the males anyway.” she said lowly. “As far as I’m concerned, you are also dangerous to be around.” She smacked the cloth aside, leaving him. She walked past the cats, who eyed her closely, probably imagining how fun it would be to mangle her. 


The moment she stepped outside she found the bodyguards off to the side, eating their meal together. They all turned at Daring with bored looks. Daring let out a snort and looked up at the trees surrounding the camp. She needed to get up high without flying, or climbing equipment. She let out a tired sigh knowing that she couldn’t do it. She would have to sleep somewhere else. She heard the tent rustle behind and turned to find Ahuizotl leaning over her. He had a stern frown and immediately the bodyguards got back to eating, but their eyes kept watching over her and their lord. He leaned his head down going beside her ear.


"Get back inside." He growled lowly, demanding it. She was ready to whirl at him but held her tongue when he continued. "You are going to attract more attention to yourself standing here like a stranger." 


She bit the inside of her cheek in annoyance. He was right, in a way. She was going to attract more attention to herself by looking around like a tourist. She turned half-way towards him giving him a nod. He pulled his head back and shot a glare at his bodyguards. He barked a command towards one of the mares, followed by his hand motioning to Daring. She looked at his bodyguard who stood up immediately with a plate of food. She had a spiked black mane, with a series of scars that decorated her face, which made her face look fearsome, and more powerful. Daring knew that she must be the top guard.


She comes up to Daring, holding the plate of food for her. Keeping a stern frown she took it without a word of thanks. Daring noticed that the mare's eyes lowered in anger at her, instinctively she gave her a glare back almost trying to push her to do something. The guard stomped her hoof towards Ahuizotl while keeping her head low as she began talking irritably to him. Ahuizotl stood in silence hearing her speak. 


"Tuchman Kai!" The mare continued. " osh' ma tenaknl am tengo, is mah woganda!" 


At the sound of the last word, Ahuizotl slammed his fist to the ground shaking the earth. Daring eyes widened slightly as Ahuizotl began barking angrily towards her with an accusing finger, while motioning to Daring. The mare took the attack of his shouts without a flinch of fear until Ahuizotl grabbed her chin harshly, lifting her up to meet his gaze while her hooves dangled an inch off the ground. She winced as he squeezed his fingers against her jawline, while speaking slowly to her. The tribe suddenly went silent, their eyes towards their lord wondering what he might do. The mare began to struggle against him as he squeezed harder still talking to her refusing to let her go until he was done. Daring watched as her face began to turn red, letting out cries of pain all the while Ahuizotl refusing to let her go. 

Daring mind began to race she couldn’t tell him to stop in her language. Her eyes darted back and forth as she racked her mind on what word means stop. 

She quickly grabbed Ahuizotl's wrist.


"Espera!" She yelled desperately. The mare immeditaly fell to the ground clutching her throat, gasping and coughing slightly. Her neck was bruised. Before Daring could assist her she was grabbed from behind pulling her back into the tent. 

Once Ahuizotl pulled her through, she punched his tail off of her back. 


"Don't you touch me!" She hissed in a low voice, not wanting the tribe-ponies to hear. 


"Foolish mare!" He snarled. His hand shook in a threatening manner at her, wanting to strike her. "Do not do that again! What civil matters that go on in my tribe is my business! I have the right!" 


"To do what? Kill her?" She growled. He let out a snort. 


"I wasn’t going to kill her...." He replied, he pulled back his hand. "I was merely punishing her for her intolerable remark." 


"What did she even say? I know it was probably about me..." She said sitting down rubbing her chest slightly. She looked at the food bowl that she had in her hoof. There was a piece of bread, some cheese and cooked beans that were smashed into a paste. It looked disgusting but she felt her stomach growl. Ahuizotl rubbed the top of head. 


"She was asking me where I found you and wanted me to get rid of you because you did not belong. Hence why I grabbed her, she went over her boundaries. She is not allowed, as well as all of  my people, to question my methods." He stated darkly. "She already knew of the consequences. As you will." 

"As long as you are here, you will act as one of my own and that mean upholding to my rules." 


"Fine-" she snarled. "But don't you ever grab me again! Touch me and I will break your fingers, you remembered what I did to them in Tencolihitan?" She replied with a sniff. Ahuizotl curled in his fingers from his tail. His index finger snapped in three consecutive pops, it was never straight again. He let out a primal growl at her. 


"Go to sleep-at dawn I will take you where I found my brothers." He turned his back on her, ending the conversation, laying on his pile of comfortable pillows.


"Where is my bed?" She asked looking around.  Ahuizotl motioned his hand to the bare ground. Her eyes lower in a scowl. "You’re joking."  


"Comfort is a privilege in my tribe." 

She let out a snort, and walked out of his room. She found a spot on the ground and laid down. She ate her meal quickly, surprisingly she kept it down. She rested her head against a large stone, not minding that the jagged edges poked her face. Her eyes and ears facing the cloth that separated her and Ahuizotl. She would have to sleep with one eye open. Her ears twitched hearing hoofsteps outside the tent, she laid still, hearing it closely. The hoofsteps seem to be circling the tent, back and forth in the front, and in the sides. She blinked letting out a soft sigh. As part of their duties, they must protect their leader and his bodyguards took it seriously. No matter what happened a few moments ago. Her eyelids slowly closed, the rhythm of the hoofsteps lulling her to sleep. While Ahuizotl stared at the blood red cloth, the sounds of the flies keeping him awake. 

> Evil Within
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------


Cold water was suddenly splashed on Daring Do’s face, she gasped as the cold water soaked her fur. She shot up, sputtering and coughing, flailing her arms as though she were trying to swim away from some imminent danger. Her initial panic disappeared when she saw Ahuizotl holding a, now empty, water canister. Although he tried to keep his expression as serious as possible she could see the corner of his mouth lifted up in a smirk. She let out a growl, so he thinks drowning me is funny.


"What in Tartarus do you think you're doing!" She snarled, baring her teeth. 


"It is morning." He stated dully, his smirk now gone. Ahuizotl placed the empty canister down beside her. She let out a sniff and shook her head like a dog, getting rid of most of the water. As she wiped her hoof over her face a light red smear painted her fur. The blood mark, it had washed off. 


"Hmm a shame, I need to give you a fresh one." 


She let out a disgruntled sigh and glared up at him. He ignored her, and taking his dagger out from it's sheath, firmly grabbed her face. With a quick slice of his index fingers he roughly redrew the symbol. She pulled away from him, and slapped his hand away, “Let go of me!”


"Be in character." He said sternly as he licked his palm. 


"Don't really have a choice, now do I?" She said, grinding her teeth. Ahuizotl walked towards the entrance, with a snap of his tail his cats rose from their beds and followed him. "What about breakfast?" Daring asked, yawning as she reluctantly followed him. 


"I have already eaten." He replied.


She rolled her eyes. Of course.


"Come, it is almost sunrise and soon the others would be awake."


"It's almost sunrise?!" She shouted. 


"Come!" He demanded, already fed up with her morning attitude. "I must take you where I found my brothers."


"Fine!" she snorted whipping her mane back. On the way out she grabbed her headpiece and placed it on her head. She caught up to Ahuizotl and made sure to keep her distance from his cats. "Take me where you found them." 



Birds cawed in the distance, adding a rather empty feeling to the campsite. As they walked, no one spoke, the warriors went about their duties in silence. A few were bringing in more firewood, the light from the breakfast fires long since faded. The grey smoke rose and settled high among the trees blocking the harsh morning light, creating a haze around the valley. They tread lightly through the middle of the camp, Ahuizotl's cats stalked carefully behind their master, effortlessly avoiding any of the jungle debris. It wasn't long before they entered the thick brush. After only a few hundred feet before Ahuizotl stopped.


Daring Do looked around, the ground in front of them was barren, there was no grass or weeds blanketing the floor. Besides the naked forest floor, not much was out of place. Frowning, she took a step forward and immediately, a large bloodstain covering the floor told her that this was their destination. Her eyebrows scrunched together as she crouched down. Touching the slightly moist earth, she looked up at Ahuizotl.



"This is where I found the second." He said keeping his voice low. 


Daring stared at the blood, most of it had already sunk into the soil, giving it a muddy black appearance. Flies were swarming around her, filling the air with their incessant buzzing. Waving her hoof kept a majority of them away from her face, and hopefully her tail would be able to swish away any others.


As she analyzed the area around her, Daring realized that the heavy foliage that helped keep the campsite behind them hidden, was also responsible for the murders remaining unseen. However, another thought occurred to her as she heard various warriors shouting to each other from the camp. If no pony saw the murder happen because of the plants... What was stopping them from hearing it?


She walked around the bloodstain, pushing apart bushes and looking at the nearby trees, trying to find any sign of a struggle or a discarded weapon. When she found nothing the third time around she let out a frustrated sigh.


"Nothing. There's absolutely nothing. No broken branches, no ripped leaves, no damn hoof steps, there's nothing!" She said, facing Ahuizotl, "It's as if he never even fought back."


"How can't he not fight back?" He questioned. "He was formidable, and yet he was killed without defending himself?" 


It was unthinkable."Show me where you found the kid."


"It's this way.." He said pointing deeper into the forest. She followed from behind as they walked farther away from camp. The thought came to her mind that Ahuizotl might be leading her to her own grave. She touched her side feeling the handle of her whip strapped underneath her dress. She notice that the cats began to spread out, going into a v-formation, the larger cats were set at the back going behind Daring while the lynx and leopard took the the front. Daring saw that the white cat climbed up Ahuizotl's back, maneuvering itself skillfully before sitting on his shoulder. The house cat function was more of a companion to him than an actual killer like the other four but that didn't stop it from entering into a fight, it couldn’t snap anypony's neck but it sure could claw out your eyes. It already tried with Daring.


The forest became denser. Ahuizotl pushed away the fauna with ease while Daring jumped over thickets and logs. Her hooves sank into the earth from rainfall which concerned her. The evidence could have easily been washed away. She lifted her hoof caked with mud and leaves, she shook it slightly feeling the mud already drying making it difficult to walk. Her eyes glance to the right where the Bengal tiger was and her eyes darted back and forth in confusion, she had made a mistake. She had entered a forest with her most deadly enemy, with four of the deadliest felines in the world and she had lost sight on them. She whirled around, her eyes squinted in a steely gaze trying to find the cats. The brush and trees provided cover that she couldn't see through. It was silent.


The sound of her breath increased in volume, there were no birds, even the wind had stopped blowing. 


"Secluded isn't it?" Ahuizotl mused, he had his back at her as he lifts his head towards the sky. Noticing the change in the forest. "Not a sound to be heard...perhaps no pony would hear your screams." 


Her breath hitched, her eyes darting back and forth. Adrenaline heightening her senses. Where are those cats?! She leaned forward and felt her hooves sink deeper in the soft mud. He let out a sigh, turning his head halfway to her. His eyes quickly went cat-like and whirled at her. 


"Do not move!" He shouted. Her eyes narrowed and moved to grab her whip, only to feel her hooves restricted in the mud. He darted towards her. 


"Back off!" She warned, bending her legs ready to fight him off. He stopped immediately, an arms length away from her. She jumped back only to twist her right foreleg, she let out a grunt of pain. She was stuck in the mud and felt her herself sink deeper. 


"You fool!" He snarled. "You wandered into quicksand!" 


She looked at him in bewilderment. "Quicksand?!" She immediately went still but her right leg buckled from the sprain she took causing her to grind her teeth, and struggle trying to lessen the pain, only to make herself sink deeper. The mud now took half the height of her legs. 


Ahuizotl growled from the annoyance of the situation. "I shall lift you out." He whips out his tail, luckily it was long enough to reach her at a safe distance or else he would have been stuck with her. He wrapped the tail around her and pulled. She let out a shout of pain finally being pulled out but her leg damaged. She was pulled towards him and set her down on her side. 


"Are you damaged?" He asked boredly putting his hand out, finding her clutching her leg. 


"Don't touch me!" She snarled pulling away from him. He retracted his hand placing it back on the ground.  "I'm fine!"


"If you have been paying attention you wouldn’t have injured yourself." He snapped coldly. She hugged her injured leg, eyeing it, wondering if she had broken it or tore a muscle. She hissed in pain feeling it throb, a pulling sensation jolted up her leg throughout her body. She curled into it going to a fetal position desperately trying to lessen the pain. She needed to place it in cold water, and put a stilt on it. Ahuizotl let out a grunt, he wanted to get to the clearing where he found the youngling but first he had to deal with the injured. She was really trying his patience. 


"I need to find a river!" she growled lowly to him fighting to scream in agony. She flapped her wings but the fabric of the dress made it impossible to hover. She decided to get up and limp, with only one step in she topples over to her side. He rolled his eyes at her failing attempts. He pressed his two fingers into his mouth letting out a sharp whistle. Immediately his predators returned to his side in a matter of seconds, emerging from their hiding place to attend him. He motioned to his panther, making it go up to Daring and moving her onto its back.


Daring made no motion to fight back, the pain of her leg was the only thing on her mind. The panther stalked carefully but quickly, as it followed Ahuizotl, the other cats ran up ahead clearing out any sort of threat that might be lurking in the woods. It wasn't long until Daring heard the thrashing of a river. It was below them as they stood on a hill, the bank was moist and slippery while jagged rocks waited below.


The cats backed away from the slope, knowing that they were not skilled enough to slid in, let alone to climb out. Ahuizotl lifted Daring off with his tail, making his panther wait with the others. Ahuizotl eyes the branches of the trees embedded into the soil, slanted towards the river waiting to fall. He looked at the ones with their roots still deep and most healthy to climb on. With a leap down, he began to swing himself down towards the water, his hand held tightly to the branches which held from the power of his weight and momentum. He landed on all fours on a smooth boulder, the water a few inches away from them. The river cut through smoothly, where there was no rapids, the water was only a few feet deep.


He placed her gently into the water, making her lean her head against the boulder to keep herself from drowning. The cold sensation to the water made her sigh in relief, as the pain lessened, but now she was soaking wet in freezing water. 


"Has your pain been relieved?" Ahuizotl asked, wanting to continue where they left off. "We must reach to the other murder site." 


Daring lifted her hoof out the water giving it a shake. Three pops rang but it did not made her wince in pain, but she could feel that it was sore. 


"Yeah..Its okay for now, just a pulled muscle." She pulled herself out going on the boulder, drenched from her neck to her tail. The dress was adding weight. Ahuizotl suddenly grabbed at her injured leg with his left hand.


"We must make sure that it is just that, Miss Do." he started twisting her leg side to side giving it a once over.


"Let go of me Ahuizotl-I said I'm f-" He gave her a tight squeeze making it crack, she shrieked in pain. Making him let out a hum.


"Just as I thought, it is worse than you suspected." he mused. She retracted her hoof, cradling it as she turned to him in a fury. 


"You egotistical maniac! It's worse because you pressed on it!" she shouted, he shrugged his shoulders showing no sense of apology, grinning at her. "You think this is funny?!"


"Please, Miss Do...you are far more damage than we realize, I did not even press hard enough to cause injury, once you see where the youngling was, we may return to camp where Izel will attend to you. He is a great medicine pony." 


She rubbed her hoof gently and nodded. "Fine." she muttered. 


"Until then we shall carry on like this." With his tail, he picked her up the scruff. She let out a small grumble of protest but decided to go along with it. She couldn't walk, let alone fly in fear of being seen. She held her hoof, massaging it slightly trying to get the pulsing pain to lessen. Ahuizotl made his way out of the steep slope, and continued down into the forest with his cats following behind. Daring back legs swayed side to side in each step Ahuizotl took.


While Ahuizotl kept his eyes towards the front, his ears stood up tall listening intently for any sort of hoofsteps that might be following them. He blinked keeping it tightly close for a moment, the white of eyes had turned bloodshot, his body was slightly sore and he was getting a headache. All signs of lack of sleep. 

He rubbed his eyes, fighting off the need to collapse in the fauna and sleep. Sleep is too much of a reward to him, he would rest when he catches the killer. He trudged through the muck and leaves before stopping.


"This is it-his body was in the middle." he stated moving her in front of him, placing her on top of the moss. She limped forward taking a look around. In front of her was a perfect circle of moss growing, her hooves sank as water bubbled to the top. It was damp and there was no evidence of blood in the field. 


She cursed under her breath, she could only speculate that the blood was washed away. She bent her head down looking closer at the moss trying to find one piece of evidence that might tell them who might have done this. She walked up towards the middle fighting off the pain. She had to find something, anything, a piece of clothing, a hoof print, or a sign of a struggle. She sat on her flank letting out a disgruntled sigh. 


"Nothing...I don't see anything." she admitted. She turned back at him expecting him to tell her to look harder or threaten her for being incompetent. He bit the inside of his cheek looking over the scene. 


"Neither do I...this was a waste a time," he said softly, with a hint of frustration. "I thought a fresh pair of eyes might see something I might have missed."


"You were here?" she asked. He nodded. 


"Last night," he answered. Her eyes widen slightly, she didn't hear him wake up. She usually heard any sort of sound, sleeping with one eye open as the saying goes. "I wanted to make sure I did not miss anything, but I saw nothing...with you validating it, I can say this with confidence," he exhaled turning away. "There is nothing here for us."

Daring frowned, he was serious on catching whoever killed his tribe ponies. She could see it in his eyes, the tiredness and disappointment. Even anger, towards himself. She had never seen him act this way before. He sniffed, quickly going back to a stern look. 

"We must go back, Izel will look at your leg." he put out his hand grabbing her. She was silent until they made it back towards camp.


Ahuizotl put her down before they entered into camp, as her cover, she was his bodyguard if she was found injured and carried by her superior, the others would find her weak and start to question her and Ahuizotl. As a leader of the tribe, he was ruthless and mercifulness, if seen carrying her they might think that he was going soft. 

Daring gritted her teeth and with her head up high limped alongside Ahuizotl as they entered into the campsite. The tribe ponies were up and about, already eating their breakfast and sharpening their tools and weapons. As if they weren't sharp enough, thought Daring. She saw the tribe ponies peer up at their master and looked away to look at her. This time instead of looking away, they were staring at her. She pretended not to notice but the air was tense, something was not right. The cats were wired up, their fur standing on end feeling the tension coming from their master even though when Daring notice, his stern appearance never falter.


The camp suddenly became silent, which made her go on edge becoming difficult to keep her composure. They almost made it to Ahuizotl's tent when Daring was attacked.

With a plate of food slammed across her face. She teetered over the side but managed to catch her footing hitting Ahuizotl's arm. She shook her head, now instead of her mane drenched with water, it was porridge. She was slow to respond as she calmly looked at her assailant to find the same mare with the scars, shouting at her. Almost demanding something from her. She gave her a blank look, from not understanding their language, which made the mare become furious. Ahuizotl stepped forward, putting his arm in front of Daring, almost protectively as he addressed the mare.
He calmly stated a set of sentences to her and looked at Daring, motioning her to get inside of the tent. She walked inside flicking her mane, bits of porriage hit the ground. While Ahuizotl spoke with the mare, Daring grumbled bitterly as she stroked her mane, cleaning it out. He walked inside, once the curtain closed behind him he addressed her. 


"She has challenged you to battle with her when the sun goes down today." He said bluntly. 


"What?...why?" she demanded continuing to pick porriage out of her mane. 


"She thinks of you as unworthy to be an 'Untouchable', and wanted you to prove to her and everyone in the tribe that you are worthy to stay by my side."


She snorted. "Well, tell her to shove it up her-!"


"I have agreed to spectate." He answered quickly. 


"You did what?!..I'm not fighting anypony!"


"It is out of my control." he stated calmly. She slammed her hoof in protest but immediately regretted it as she stomped with her injured leg. Ahuizotl rolled his eyes and walked passed her going to a small urn. "You are acting like a foal, what do you have to worry about?" he asked opening the top of the urn. Daring clutched on her leg tightly, taking in sharp breaths, like she was ready to give birth. 


"I have a lot to worry about." Daring growled, fighting with the pain. "Like this leg for one!"

She watched as Ahuizotl dip his right hand into the urn, his fingers dipped inside smeared with a green paste. He turned back to her showing her the green paste, that looked like foal food but smelled like sweet mint. 


"This shall lessen the pain." he explained walking back to her and took her leg by force making her wince. 


"Get off me!" she yelled, she punched his hand making him loosen his grip. She jumps back protectively covering her leg. Ahuizotl shook his hand letting out a snarled from her attack. He turns his injured hand into a fist.


"You stubborn mare, I am trying to help you!"


"No thanks! it's obvious you have no idea how to take care of injured ponies!" she argued motioning to her leg.  "I rather have that pervert Cabelleron touch me than you!"


She was suddenly grabbed around her torso by Ahuizotl's tail and pulled harshly through the cloth into his room. She began to punch and kick wildly at him trying to get him to let go of her, but her limbs waved wildly as Ahuizotl hand his fingers on her shoulders and waist locking onto her like a vest. She was slammed on the pillows while it lessen the blow on hitting the ground it still made her shout out. Her yells were quickly muffled as Ahuizotl wrapped a piece of cloth over her mouth in between her teeth swiftly tying it in a knot.


"There!" he growled triumphantly as he tried to hold her still, her legs still kicking. "Now you have no choice in this matter." He grabbed her injured leg again making her yell out, but muffled enough that no pony outside would be able to hear. With his right hand he began to smear the green paste onto her hoof, making sure to spread it over her whole leg. Its consistency was like glue but as Ahuizotl began to rub it onto her writhing leg, the color disappeared and a cooling sensation filled her arm and the inner pain started fading away. She slowly began to calm down feeling that it was working, the smell of the mint filled her nostrils clearing her airways.


Ahuizotl began to knead her arm with his fingers, his thumb gingerly rubbing the back of her hoof where the pain was centered. With the medicine placed it did not hurt, the pain was still there but with Ahuizotl massaging it, it felt...good.


She eyed him closely, wondering if her might give her a harsh pull and damage her leg severely. His hand-tail still held her down while he gently massaged her arm. His thumb rubbed against it counter clock wise, she felt her muscle pop with each rotation. Her eyelids began to flicker, whatever was in the green paste was making her become overwhelmingly relaxed. Which was extremely dangerous when in the same room with a sociopath. Her head fell back, the pillows slowly starting to feel like a cloud. 

Ahuizotl let out a dark chuckle.


"You were always so easy to catch when injured, Miss Do." He started noticing that she was getting drowsy. She shook her head trying to keep herself alert. "Under any other circumstance, if you are like this, I would have easily taken a bite of your jugular." He admitted smoothly. She turned her head to the side looking at him with hate and disgust from him touching her and holding her down so easily. He let out a small laugh, bearing his canines in a large grin. 


"Your eyes so full of hate and anger, Miss Do, I see the same thing from my warriors that I often wonder if you are part tribe-pony...you must really hate it when I touch you." He whispered lowly with a hint of amusement in his voice. He used his other free hand to grab her injured arm, lifting it up slightly to cup her elbow. Her eyes narrowed and  quickly began to struggle. He ignored her as he rubbed his fingers up and down her arm feeling every muscle. Her breath hitched and her struggling ceased.  He looked back to her finding her head to the side, her eyelids half closed. He let out a small growl of excitement. 


"Getting sleepy...Miss Do?" He said jokingly. "Hmm how easily you lowered your guard, it must be this herbal medicine. You see, it has mint and white chestnut flower with a hint of chamomile. It tends to relax the muscle, and make a pony a little more manageable." 

She let out a soft groan in response before closing her eyes completely. 


"Am I interrupting, my Lord?" Ahuizotl turned to find his advisor with his head peering inside holding a blank look. Ahuizotl raised a brow and noticed the situation he was in. He let out a scoff at his advisor's attempt of a joke. 


"Please come in, Izel, I was just applying the ointment onto her, she has suffered a sprained hoof." 


"Yes it is quite obvious, especially when you trying to take advantage of your enemy.." 


Ahuizotl let out a glare and moved away dropping her arm. 


"Do not be ridiculous Izel." He said sternly. "I do not have time for trivial matters." 


"Of course my lord," Izel said respectively, not wanting Ahuizotl's temper to catch fire. He picked up Daring's limp hoof, rubbing his own on top of it. 

"She has a strained tendon, very bad, it will take three days to heal....that is not good when she is fighting against Aila." He said looking over Daring who slept soundly. He shook his head in disbelief that she actually fell asleep. 

He took out his medical instruments that he had in his saddle bag. He took out a set of therapeutic needles. Ahuizotl watched from the side and let out a snort. 


"I have seen her fight with her wing broken, she will be fine against Aila." Ahuizotl replied. Izel began to stab the needles into her hoof getting into the injury and pressure points. 


"Why do we have this mare here, My Lord?" Izel asked seriously. He put his hoof gently on the ballpoint of a needle rotating it slowly.

Ahuizotl pressed his lips together.


"We need her Izel." Ahuizotl stated. 


"No, we do not." Izel argued. "She is a distraction, a nuisance, we don't need her to find the killer, what we need to do is weed him out."


"How?...For him to kill more of our brothers and sisters? perhaps he might make a mistake, or best yet we might even catch him in the act." he exclaimed mockingly. Izel began to pull the needles out one by one. 


"No..." he said slowly. "but confiding with your enemy, this Daring Do, the one who always stopped you in your plans, made a fool of you,she is the only pony I know that has even bested you once in battle." 


"She caught me off guard."


"Even so...as your advisor I bid you to change your mind and kill her while she sleeps." He said taking out the last needle. "I have a dagger in my bag if you wish to use it." he took out a short sharp dagger holding it out to Ahuizotl. He blinked at his old advisor. 


"Put that away. We will not kill her...at least not today. If she does her job we will let her live, if not, I will think about killing her."


"As you wish-" his advisor sighed putting the dagger away. "Her hoof will feel much better when she wakes, but if something or somepony were to damage it again, the pain would slow her down."


"I will keep that in mind." Ahuizotl replied, "You may go..."

"Of course, my Lord" he bowed before taking his leave. Ahuizotl looked back at Daring, who slept peacefully. He let out a chuckle noticing how different she was when she slept. Her face was much more relaxed than the scowl she kept. He rubbed his eyes, thinking about what Aila had done. He could not refuse a warrior fighting another, if he was to do that, it would lead his tribe into suspicion especially the killer. Yet, he was confident Daring would win, Aila didn’t know her fighting style, but he could not help but feel on edge. 

> Entering Hell
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

"Entering Hell"


Daring Do slowly woke up, she lifted herself up going to a sitting position. Immediately she noticed her hoof did not hurt but it was still sore. Her eyes moved to the corner of the room to find Ahuizotl staring silently at her at the dark corner. He was laying one arm over the other, like how his cats would lay. She couldn't believe that she actually fell asleep while he was next to her, it was a chance for him to kill her yet she felt relief that he didn’t choose that path. 

"How long was I asleep?" she asked, noticing that the sun was setting. Ahuizotl let out a yawn, showing her his sharp canines. 

"Most of the day..." he answered. "It is almost time for your battle with Aila, the mare that challenged you." he explained. She let out huff going to her hooves.

"Fine!..It's not like I got a choice, I'll try not to embarrass her too much." she said, shaking her hoof wanting to get the numbness to go away. Ahuizotl eyes narrowed seriously. 

"Do not be so confident, she is very strong, you have never fought with her before." Daring shot him a look of disbelief. 

"Stronger than you?" She questioned. 

"Of course not." 

"Then I'll be fine. Are there any combat rules or customs you have?"

He placed his hand under his chin. "You will each choose a weapon, and cause as much damage possible to your opponent until they are unable to continue."

She cursed under her breath, She did not want to hurt anypony unless it was absolutely necessary. She acted under a code, don't kill and don't hurt anypony unless it was needed for self-defense. She had thought about killing Ahuizotl, something that came into mind during one of their battles towards a certain golden spear. She thought about impaling him with the tip. Putting an end to his tyrannical reign and psychopathic obsession for conquest, but she couldn't bring herself to do it. Taking a life… was something she had never done before. She glanced back at Ahuizotl, who was picking his canines with his sharp nail using it as a toothpick.

From her years of knowing him and studying him she had come to realize that he is a meat eater. She had even heard of him killing ponies that were enemies of his tribe, taking their bodies to eat as a form of a feast for his triumph. She cringed in disgust, remembering that she had caught him eating eyeballs as a snack. She suspected they were from ponies. His choice of pallet made him more dangerous than she realized when she first caught a glimpse of him. It should have been easy to make the decision to kill him.


She had never seen another Ahuizotl like him, for as much as she knew, he was the last of his kind. She had tried to research his kind the first time she met him. His origins were surrounded on legends than about facts. It was as if he was born out of nothing. Perhaps that was the reason why she couldn't bring herself to take his life. Being the last of his kind, it would go against her nature to cause the extinction of a species. Regardless of what he had done. 

"Anything you want to tell me about this mare?" she asked, "Any special qualities she has when she fights?"

He let out a smirk removing his finger away from his mouth.  "You are asking me to cheat, Miss Do." 

"Since when did you care about playing fair?" 

"How true..." he tap the ground, almost as if he had a nervous tick. "She likes to see blood, hence why she has the scars..she did that to herself." Daring eyes widen slightly. "She cares less about physical punches and kicks then about slicing her opponent like a butcher."

"Like a butcher?" she mused. "Do you suspect that she might be the one that killed the two victims?"

He looked back at her, in genuine surprise. "It was my first thought, no-one can tell me of her whereabouts during the attacks, but I still do not have any evidence against her." 

"Have she ever killed anypony before?" she asked darkly. He blinked at her and nodded. 

"During an attack, approximately six months ago, I have seen her kill colts with only her dagger...I had to pull her aside when she began to mutilate them."

"I thought mutilation is what you do." She said in a challenging voice. His eyes suddenly flashed in anger. 

"Do you think of me like a monster, Miss Do?" he asked, she stared at him not showing him a hint of fear. He let out a dark chuckle, placing his finger over his mouth. "You might be right..." he admitted. "I have killed ponies before, even as a pup...I killed my enemies with my bare hands snapping their necks like the twigs they are.....but," his eyes narrowed at her. "I have never mutilated them."

"But you ate them." she said with a twinge of disgust. He suddenly let out a laugh. 

"Of course! It is part of my diet! we can't all be herbivores, it must disgust you but… II know it intrigues you." he grinned. Daring looked away from him. "Ah, yes it does, I see it in your eyes....would you like to know what ponies taste like?"

"Enough!" she shouted stomping her left hoof. "Don't you feel shame or at least guilty?!" 

He placed his palm under his chin, leaning towards her in interest. 

"You believe you know what is right, Miss Do? Do you believe to be superior to others?" he questioned with a smirk. She let out a growl wanting to wipe his smug grin. "I thought your job as an Archaeologist is to study culture and races, in my culture and in my race, we kill to survive. I do not incite an attack, no… other tribes do that to conquer my land and my people."

"As leader, I must protect my people, no?...and we fight to the death. You want to know why I eat my enemies? It’s not to incite fear but to survive myself...I need meat to survive, or else I will die, it doesn’t have to be pony, I haven’t had a pony for six months." He tilted his head at her.

"You must think of my people as barbaric, yet, this is our way of life...but there are standards and rules to follow as long as I am their leader, and mutilating bodies is something that leaves a bad taste in my mouth...." 

Daring sat down, letting out a deflated sigh. She didn’t like it, but he was right. This is how they lived. 

"Aila favors the dagger, I suggest you pick a blade with a long handle." He mentioned. 

"I'll keep that in mind." 

A loud bell rang, followed by two more. She and Ahuizotl faced the cloth hearing the loud rattle. He got up going to the sheet. 

"It is time. One last warning..." he said turning to her. "If Aila strikes your hoof, it will cause problems, make sure she does not gain the advantage..." He smacks the cloth aside heading outside. Daring moved her head to one side, hearing her neck pop. She got up, moving her shoulders, limbering up before following him out.


Rows of torches lead them towards the middle of the camp. Ahuizotl walked along Daring who held her head up with a stern frown, but with a hint of uncertainty. All of the tribe ponies gathered around a circular stone, the stage for the fight. It was a round stone twelve feet across and four feet elevated from the ground. The ponies turned to their leader and his bodyguard giving them a respectful bow, separating themselves to a path towards the stage for Daring while Ahuizotl made his way to his throne, set to overview the fight. It was made out of wood beams elevated a foot above the stone. With one leap he seated himself comfortably while he kept his eye on Daring. Izel stood in front of her, holding a set of weapons for her choose on a metal slab. She eyed her choices carefully, while the tribe ponies starred wondering what weapon she might choose. There was three she could choose from, a jagged dagger, an axe, and a short staff. She blinked, and looked at the other side to see Aila, picking her choice of weapon, which was a dagger, just as Ahuizotl predicted. Daring looked from her choices one last time before taking the short staff. Izel bowed and without a word stepped out of the way. With the staff in her mouth, she jumps landing swiftly on the cold stone. She looked up seeing that a white circle was painted, a sign for the fighters to stay in the circle at all times. Aila stood at the other side, her head posed down with the dagger in her hoof, she spread her hooves apart going into her stance. Daring eyes narrowed as she placed the staff in her hoof, her right hind leg going back, bending her knees slightly, bouncing in place. In her travels she had learned many Martial Arts, Colt jin tsu, twi kwon foal, and Shaolin. Her wings came to advantage when it came to fighting, but she had to resist using them at all cost as they laid hidden beneath her dress.


Aila held a grin of confidence, her eyes wide ready to cause any harm necessary. Daring could feel her hatred towards her from the look. She let out a steady breath, trying to keep herself calm and focused. Ahuizotl held his hand high ready to give out the order for them to start. With one eye on him and one eye on Aila, Daring readied herself. His hands fell to a fist barking out his command. 

"Tawo!" 

Aila sprinted towards her, her dagger poised ready to strike into her chest. Daring stood her ground, reading her movements, and countered. She sidestepped and swung her staff. It made contact with the side of her head, crashing into her ear, making her shout out and stumble forward. Daring jumped to the side, going behind her. Aila shook her head, taking a step back avoiding the white paint as blood dripped out of her left ear, her eardrum ruptured. The tribe ponies exchanged glances in surprise while Ahuizotl held a hand under his chin, unfazed. Aila whipped her head back at Daring, baring her teeth. Daring held out her staff as Aila charged again, Daring sidestepped again only to have Aila follow, she made a quick jab hitting Daring in the chest. She lurched back, the air knocked out of her, Aila quickly elbows her in the head making her stumble sideways, almost losing her footing. Her eyes widened seeing the gleam of the dagger heading straight towards her, she jumped back only to feel the dagger slice down her shoulder.


Daring clutched the wound, blood gushing out, staining the stone. She hissed feeling it burn while Aila let out a laugh at her injury. Ahuizotl eyes widened slightly and leaned forward as Daring swayed trying to keep herself balanced all the while fighting the pain. She gritted her teeth glaring at Aila who held her head up, her eyes towards Ahuizotl, almost as if telling him that she was right. Daring shook her head, seizing the opportunity, she struck her. Swinging her staff which made contact with her head, neck, shoulder and swung around repeating the process.
Head.
Shoulder.
Neck.
Head.
Head......head.  
The wood began to splinter as Daring continued to hit her forcing her back. Daring's vision started to grow more red by the second, not stopping her self when Aila fell, dropping her dagger in the process. She hit her again and again and again. The rage against the mare fueled her screaming inchorehantly at the mare who had the audacity to scar her. She lifted her staff up to deliver another blow to her skull, only to feel somepony stop her, grabbing her wrist. She whirled, her teeth bared like a wild animal to strike whoever grabbed her only to see Ahuizotl. She blinked, seeing his eyes low silently telling her to stop. He had jumped in the ring when Daring failed to hear him when he shouted out a command for her to stop, something that fell on deaf ears.

She was breathing hard, panting slightly, her throat dry from the screaming as she looked at the mare laying across her hooves. She was bloodied, from the head to her side, bleeding profusely from a crack to her skull, as her body was black and blue. She was unconscious from the moment she fell, unknown to Daring as she beat her.

Daring let out a horrified gasp, stumbling back on what she done. Aila was barely breathing when Izel and a few tribe ponies took her away on a makeshift bed, to treat her wounds. She felt Ahuizotl place a hand on her shoulder, pulling her away from the pile of blood left behind to face the spectators. Their eyes were full of fear from what they had witness from her brutality, she let out a shaky breath, this was the first time she lost control. Ahuizotl took off his golden wrist band and latched it onto her forearm. She looked at it in surprise and saw that the tribe ponies immediately bowed their heads, this time their foreheads touching the earth, a sign of extreme respect.


----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


Ahuizotl entered the medical tent of his camp to find Izel treating Aila of her wounds. She laid on her back, bruised and bloodied. Her cuts were wrapped in white bandages staining them with her blood. Her face was swollen, suffering from head trauma and having bruises on the left side of her face. She laid unconscious as Ahuizotl sat beside Izel. 

"She looks like hell-" he said unable to hold back a grin. Izel gave him a sideway glance not sharing in the same humor. He placed the needles in her scalp trying to stop her brain from swelling. 

"She will live." Izel stated gruffly. "But, she would suffer some damage that requires to be healed in the next few months and some of her bones are broken, she won’t be able to see battle in six months maybe a year."

Ahuizotl let out a hum. "She won’t like that."

"No, she will not, but perhaps now she have learned her lesson..."

"From being almost half-killed by Daring Do? She might even avoid her." 

Ahuizotl placed a paw under his chin. "She was a real tribe pony for a moment in her blinding rage." Izel scoffed at his Lord from directing her as part of the tribe. 

"She is a coward." He said bitterly, stabbing a needle onto Aila's fractured arm. "She cannot even finish the job, her attacks were sloppy, her rage drove her to that." He scolded. 


"If Aila knew the simple basics! She would have been able to defend herself, damn foal."

"It was because I stopped her, Izel." Ahuizotl explained softly. "Having another death in our tribe would be troublesome." 

"You are getting soft!" he accused turning his back to him. Ahuizotl eyes widen slightly as he poked him. "That is not how I raised you! I trained you to be fair but merciful! Aila had always been disobedient and you refused to put her in her place....I told you to kill her when you had the chance, and that mare..." he let out a growl from mention of Daring, turning back to Aila as he stabbed another needle on her forearm. "She almost had to do it for you."
Ahuizotl let out a breath at his advisor. 

"You are right, father..." he nodded. Izel let out a grunt. 

"What can I expect from a young mind like yours, my son?" he questioned quietly. "Changing traditions...., refusing to kill insubordinates, letting an outsider in our home in hopes of catching a killer, tch'! This is your puberty all over again." Ahuizotl muzzle scrunched as Izel continued. "But this is your tribe, you do as you wish." 

Ahuizotl opened his mouth to respond before his ears perked, Izel turned to see Daring peer inside with her eyes to the ground. Izel growled lowly as Ahuizotl turned to her.

"Can I come in?" she asked. Ahuizotl moved his head to the side motioning her to come inside. The moment Daring walked in, Izel noticed the band on her arm his eyes flashed with anger as he bowed to her, his forehead touching the ground. She was taken back.

"Why is everypony doing that?" she asked. Izel let out a grumble turning away from her. 

"It's because our Lord gave you that bracelet, it means you are in the same hierarchy as him." he answered. 

"Wh-why did you give me this?" she asked towards Ahuizotl. He motioned to Aila. 

"Because you defeated her, she was my strongest "untouchable" but you proved to be stronger that is why I gave you the bracelet." he said. Daring cringed slightly at Aila from the injuries she gave her. She never wanted to hurt her that bad. 

"Will she be okay?" 

"She will be fine, she suffered a few broken bones." 

"I broke some bones?" she whispered horrified at what she had done. Izel gave Ahuizotl a sideway glance, moving his lips as he inaudibly said 'See? She is a coward.' Ahuizotl gave him a harsh glare making him turn away to finish his work. 



> Raining Blood
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Daring felt the weight of the bracelet grow heavier as she stared at the unconscious Aila. She rubbed her arm slightly touching the cold metal of the band. She winced a bit feeling a sharp pain on her left shoulder. She glanced down to see the large, deep cut Aila gave her in their battle. It was a jagged cut, from the top of her shoulder down to the middle of her collar bone. She let out a shaky breath as the dark blood ran down her arm staining her dress and coat. Blood didn’t bother her, but the wound caused some concerns, and the pain was quickly shooting through her. Izel turned hearing Daring's rapid breathing, his eyes narrowed in a glare. Ahuizotl’s eyes widened slightly seeing a small pool of blood beneath her hooves. 

"Foolish mare-" Izel spat. "You are letting the wound fester, soon the flies will come, go and wash it out." He said waving her out the tent door. Daring let out a soft hiss taking a step back.

"I thought your were a doctor, can't you fix it?"

He turned his back to her, putting his attention on Aila. "I am busy with this one, I need to watch her to make sure she doesn't stop breathing..."

"I shall look at it-" Ahuizotl said. Daring gave him a wary glance. 

"Are you sure you can fix this?" She asked. "I think I might need stitches...." 

"Izel taught me everything I know, and I am steady with a needle. Come....before the tribe sees you, an injured mare is a dead one." He said darkly heading to the exit. 

"What do you mean by that?" 

"I mean that anypony can challenge you even if you are injured and take your place." 

She scoffed as she followed him out. "Your people are very lovely."

-------------------------------------------------------------

Ahuizotl placed a needle over the flame of a candle, sterilizing it before he could begin sewing her cut. Daring sat in front of him holding a wet moss over her wound, acting like a sponge and relieving the pain. They both sat in his room, away from the prying eyes of the tribe who might try to seize an opportunity to take her place. 

She blinked slowly, feeling drowsy. 

"Stay awake, Miss Do… or you might just go in a coma." He chuckled. She gave him a glare, and removed the moss once he threaded the needle.

"Just make it quick." She snapped not sharing his sense of humor. He shrugged as he went up to her wound going to the collarbone first, where the cut was not as deep and to work his way up. 

"Would you prefer a stick to bite on?" He smirked "This might hurt."

She raised her chin up, holding a harsh frown. "Just hurry up and do it!"

He didn't waste time driving the hot needle through her flesh. She let out a grunt biting her tongue from keeping herself from crying out. She heard Ahuizotl let out a chuckle seeing her pain stricken face he was holding as he sewed up her skin as if it was a piece of quilt. While fighting with pain she couldn't help but notice how still and nimble his hand was when he sewed. It was a surprise.

"Did Izel teach you how to do this?" She asked. Ahuizotl let out a sigh, his hot breath hitting against her shoulder. 

"Yes, when I was younger he taught me how to help the injured, as well as healing myself from deeper wounds, my salvia can only help in small cuts." 

"How long was that fossil with you?" She smirked, Ahuizotl let out a small chuckle as he bit down on the string, cutting it. 

"Since I was a mere babe." He answered, moving his head back to examine his sewing pattern. He toss her the moss, making her place it over her shoulder. 

"That long? ....was there another Ahuizotl before you that I should worry about?" She questioned with a smile. She always did wonder if there was more of his species out there. This was a perfect time to ask. He placed the needle down on a piece of cloth, holding a small frown. 

"No..." He muttered. "They were killed off when I was a newborn pup." 

Her eyes shot wide open. "Killed off?" 

"Yes, I do not know the reason, but Izel found me underneath my dead mother..." He swallowed, his eyes narrowed as a distant memory flashed in his eyes as he continued. "He raised me fairly, I come to know him as a father." He said holding a stoic frown. Daring bit the inside of her cheek, it is what she has suspected, there was no other like Ahuizotl. It made her feel pity for him, just a little. After all she couldn't forget the times he tried to kill her.

"I am sorry." She sighed. "Losing your family like that..." 

He suddenly let out a snort of laughter, making her whirl at him in surprise which grew into anger.

"What's so funny?!" She demanded.

"Forgive me.." He said stifling out a laugh. "You are being too sentimental, such things, they are in past, I do not remember my people, my mother or the killings and yet you feel sadness when I do not." 

"Don't you miss them?" She asked giving him a scowl. "Your mother at least? Who probably gave her life protecting you?" She said with a hint of anger from his lack of emotion. 

He shrugged. "Do you want me to weep? I did not shed a tear when Izel told me when I was a child, yet sometimes I do long to see another one of my kind...but I know that is for naught, why hope? When you know your people are dead?" He paused for a moment.

"You ask me if I miss the female who gave birth to me,  I do not, you might think of me as heartless but I did not know her, I do not remember her face so why would I miss her, if I had not seen or feel or felt love from her?"

"To show others that you have a soul!" She snarled, going to her hooves. He let out a sniff as he put a hand to his chest. 

"If only-" he smirked. "But...I would have liked to meet her, perhaps in the next life." He said waving to subject off. She let out a snort. He was still the same, cruel and ruthless. She pressed the moss against her and growled in irritation seeing that it was sapped out of its moisture. She reached out for the bowl of water beside her to dampen the plant. 
Ahuizotl pulled it away swiftly.

"What the hell!" She yelled out slamming the moss down. 

"You will loosen the stitches if you continue showering yourself." He explained with a glare. 

"It. Hurts." 

"I have medication for you to eat, that should lessen your pain." He explained reaching his tail out behind him towards some mason jars. He reached inside taking out a small dried leaves . It was brittle to the touch when he brought it over to her. He placed the leaves in a small bowl of hot water. With a stir with his finger the leaves turned the water yellow. He placed the bowl into her hooves. She sniffed it uncertain of the smell.

"Swallow. It is a pain-killer." 

She placed her lips on the bowl right away, but it was no miracle, it would take an hour for it to take effect. 

"You should rest, the medication will make you drowsy, I must go and tend to my tribe." He said getting up. 

"You mean give orders?" She replied snarkily. 

"Of course. I am their leader. " he respond cooly before leaving her be. Daring fell on her back staring up at the tent ceiling as she tried to get comfortable with the many pillows resting beneath her. She couldn't help but think of the killer, so far she was hitting dead ends, no witnesses, no suspects and no evidence. She was starting to think this was a lost cause when she closed her eyes. 


---------------------------------------------------------

Dark.


Everything was dark. 


Daring walked through the darkness trying to find a source of light, but it felt as if she was in a cave and her hoof steps echoing around her. She stopped abruptly to take her bearings.


Black. Black. Nothing but black, where was she? 


How did she even get here?


Suddenly there was movement. She whirled to her left, only to see a dark form dart off heading in front her almost like a shadow. As she approached it she went into a crouching stance, she felt the hair in the back of her neck stand up, her breathing quickened as the form slowly stood up, liquefying itself. It looked like oil, as droplets fell to floor as a pony's head formed, just a head attached to snake like strand puddling beneath it. She let out a shaky breath at the monstrosity before her as she watched it tilt its head to the side and opened its mouth revealing rows of sharp teeth. 

"W-what-!" It tackled her with a demonic scream, pushing her onto her back.


Its mouth snapped at her as she struggled against it, punching and kicking which went through it like she was hitting nothing . She punched at the head actually making contact as the face sunk in, only for it to ripple and form back letting an ear piercing scream. What she could describe as a tentacle appeared behind the beast forming into a sharp point, the beast positioned it above her chest and drove forward.

She let out a scream of pain as the beast retracted the tentacle out of her stomach to give her another stab before she suddenly woke up. 


---------------------------------------------------------------

"Daring! Daring Do! What happened? Wake up! Who did this?" He demanded, almost screaming at her. She looked at him with blood-shot eyes and immediately looked down and saw that she was covered in blood, from a stab to her stomach. 

"Y-you stabbed me?" She stammered, in a almost a horrified whisper. She immeditatly pulled herself away from him stumbling in her attempt to escape. "You stabbed me. You stabbed me!" She shouted. 

"Daring Do stop!" 

With just a few steps she fell forward, clutching her stomach trying to stop herself from bleeding out. He reached out to her. 

"Don't touch me! Y-You stabbed me! You stabbed me!" She accused him as she was spitting out blood, the taste of iron almost made her want to throw up. 

"I did not attack you, Miss Do!" He shouted reaching out her again. "I found you this way! Do you remember what happened?" 

She shook her head as the room began to spin. "N-no you stabbed me...I know you did, you stabbed me when I was...was..y-you.." 

"Daring! Wake up!" He let out an array of curse words as she went limp, struggling to be conscious. He pushed her gently onto her back, ripping off the dress to assess the wound. It was a deep wound going in at three inches. He grabbed the ripped up dress bundling it and pressed it against her wound. He yelled out for Izel who rushed to his aid and began to help. 

"What in the name of Tartarus happened!" Izel shouted, taking out his needles. He began stabbing her abdomen to stop the blood from flowing out. "Move!" He commanded to Ahuizotl who had his hand pressed against her stomach. 

"I need to press against it!" He argued. 

"You fool! You have done enough! Let me do my part!" 

Ahuizotl seethed and reluctantly pulled his hand away, taking the pieces of cloth as he watched Izel stabbed the needles around the wound. 

"Hand me a knife..."Izel began peering inside it. "I fear it might be far damaging then we realize." 





 

> Paradise
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

"Paradise"

Izel wiped the sweat off his brow and wiped his hooves with a blood stained cloth before throwing it aside as he looked down at Daring who was breathing heavily, weak from blood loss. He had finished bandaging her waist, covering the wound with some stitches and medicine before wrapping it with clean bandages. 

"You are lucky, my son," Izel muttered, his throat scratchy from shouting instructions to Ahuizotl. 
Ahuizotl glanced at his adoptive father and nodded. 

"I fear the killer tried to make her his next victim." He said gravely. He notices how pale she was as she continued to sleep.

"What makes you say that?" 

"She won against Aila, the strongest of the untouchable, she was the obvious choice...I should have foreseen this!" He exclaimed angrily. If he had not left maybe, she would not have been attacked, and they would have caught him red-hoofed. 

"Do not blame yourself for your mistake, Ahuizotl..." Izel said sarcastically, earning him a sideway glance that turned into a glare. 

"Watch that tongue of yours Izel; I'm afraid you mispronounced that sentence." He growled. Izel let out a snort. 

"You are foolish, young, and inexperienced!" He stated harshly turning to him fully. "You should have left her to die! Instead, I save her just as a favor to you, my son, who had forgotten the basic rules of war!" He snarled.  "Never leave your weapon, unintended!"

Ahuizotl ears went low from his scolding, holding back his tongue. His father turned away shaking his head as he looked at Daring. 

"You still have a lot to learn, Ahuizotl.." He began. "And I hope you don't disappointment me when you deal with this killer." 

"Of course...father." He said lowly. "I shall make his fear for his death, with no mercy!" 

"I hope so..." He replied slowly, almost not believing his words. Izel took his leave gathering up his needles and supplies before leaving Ahuizotl's tent. Ahuizotl let out a sigh and looked back at Daring. Her chest rose slowly in a rhythm; cold sweat drenched her fur making it ruffled and stuck out of place. Her mane was wet from the cloth that he set to take away any discomfort of heat from the humidity of the forest. His pillows were still wet from her blood making him growl lowly in irradiance knowing that he would have thrown away. She was very close to death, if the attacker had stabbed higher, it would have hit a major organ, and there would have been nothing they could have done. He ran his fingers over her bandages, a spot of red appearing where the wound was, but it was nothing that concerned him. It will just be a while until it heals completely. He circled the red spot with index finger almost mesmerized. He felt her twitch against his touch making him pull away abruptly as she started to wake up slowly.
He moved his head closer to hers as she lifted her head, opening her eyes. 
One look and he were immediately punched in the muzzle, making him recoil in a shout clutching his nose. 
She let out a yell. "Get away!" crawling backward away from him before collapsing on her back, clutching her stomach. She grabbed the closest thing she had a weapon which was a dagger that Ahuizotl foolishly put down when trying to save her life. Maybe Izel did had a point. 

"You little witch!" He snarled as she pointed it right at him. "I just saved your life!" 

"N-no!" She shouted her voice hoarse; she shook her head seeing the room spin. She struggled to keep the dagger straight. "No! I know you wanted to kill m-me...." She said clenching her teeth. "I-I...the cave...you lured me...I....ow, my head." 

"You are delirious..." Ahuizotl stated calmly, putting out his hand, she shakily moved the dagger at him. "You lost a lot of blood; you are going to pass out if you keep moving." 

"Stay back!" She warned. "Or you will...be losing more than your f-fingers..." She stammered, her voice shaking. Ahuizotl eyes lowered, he would have to take the dagger away from her. He moved his tail inching it closer to her to the side. She immediately waved the dagger towards his tail, slicing through the air. 

"Get away!" She shouted, "I'll kill you!...I swear I...I will!" 

"Miss Do, if I wanted to kill you, I would have sliced your throat, not stabbed you" he explained inching his way closer to her. She was seething, breathing heavily from excreting herself too much. "..also if I wanted to kill you, why would I help you?" 
She reeled back, her back hitting the tent wall. 

"T-that's enough!" Her eyes began darting back and forth, her vision blurring. "Y-you...you.." Her grip of the dagger loosen, and he quickly took the chance. With a swipe of his tail, he knocked it away and tackled Daring, pinning her down against her back. She struggled against him violently, but he was stronger. 

"Stop!" He growled as she tried to kick him.. "You are going to open your stitches, you fool!" 

She finally succumbed to exhaustion, her breathing began to have a high pitched wheeze, and her eyes had turned bloodshot. Drenched in sweat from the struggle. Ahuizotl let out a breath, finding it best to keep her still until she is well of mind. 
He had his tail wrapped around her back legs as he moved her forelegs with his other hands. She let out a hiss the moment he touched her right hoof, immediately trying to retract it away. He raised a brow; he didn't grab her that hard. While keeping his grip, he gave it a look. 
It was a cut, a small one, at least a few inches across the front of her leg, from the struggle with the knife.

"Please-" he scoffed. "For a paper cut like that? It won't even leave a scar..." He smirked, Daring had her eyes closed. "this is an easy fix." 
He leaned forward his as he brought her hoof up, meeting it halfway he gave it a methodical lick. Again, he hit her left hoof managed to slip out of his grasp and shot out hitting his left cranium. It was a soft hit, because of her exhaustion that it made him jolt slightly. 
He snorted.

"You stupid mare!" He growled in a low voice, taking her left hoof and keeping it in a vice grip. She struggled slightly against him until she found a fascinating sight on her injured hoof, her small cut was healing before her eyes. Her lips pressed together in a slight grimace, her eyes ping-ponging, avoiding direct eye contact with Ahuizotl and onto the cut. It appeared as if her skin was zipping up the wound before it closed completely. 
She wrinkled her nose and blew her cheeks out, letting out a small release of air. 
Ahuizotl felt her body slowly relax and saw that her eyes had turned back to normal, losing its bloodshot appearance. 

"Okay-" she whispered, her voice raspy. "You said you didn't stab me?" 
Ahuizotl loosened his grip on her lifting himself off of her. 

"Yes, I did not-" he responds calmly as he watched her sit up. She rubbed her head. 

"I believe you…” She admitted. Why else would he heal her? Deep down she was supposed to believe that it was possible for Ahuizotl to stab her but, it was illogical to continue thinking that because there was also a lingering thought that convinced her that he did not. Slowly, flashes of her dream came into her mind. "It wasn't you, it was somepony else," She whispered slowly. "He was in my dream..."

"Dream?-" he let out a scoff wondering if the medicine was making her drowsy and incompetent. 

"I know it...sounds crazy, but in my dream, there was a pony made out of tar..." She let out a soft groan. "That sounds ridiculous out loud but, the thing in my dream stabbed me! and when I wake up I have been stabbed in the same spot!" she said gesturing angrily at her bandaged stomach. 
Ahuizotl pondered this, a killer that enters into dreams? It almost sounds impossible but...the wound in her stomach, the wounds he saw on the victims. They were similar. Could it be that would be the reason no pony heard their screams because they were asleep?
It's almost as if it is the-!
A high-pitched scream interrupted his thoughts, immediately sending him rushing out of the tent leaving Daring to struggle as she tried to catch up. He follows the scream towards the medical tent to catch one of the mares in the tribe, a healer-in-training, who stumble out of the tent. Hysterical and crying, she screamed and pointed inside. Ahuizotl sent the mare aside as he bursts inside to find Aila, her torso completely ripped open and her mouth opens in a silent scream. The killer had struck again. 
Blood was splattered around inside, covering the walls and ceiling, as if her torso burst open. He heard the horrified gasp from Daring; he turned putting his hand out to her not wanting her to stray close to the pool of blood inching its way towards the entrance. She covered her mouth, turning away from the sight. Ahuizotl felt his blood boil, the killer had killed again but instead of in the forest, it was inside his camp! It was as if the killer was mocking him.

"Miss Do-" he began with a serious tone. "I need you to see if the killer took anything out of her body-" 

She cursed bitterly under her breath, the intense smell of the blood was making her feel nauseous. With a small inhale she turned to the corpse. Peering carefully inside, while holding her nose in fear one whiff might send bile into Aila's body. With one look she retreated beside Ahuizotl. 

"Her kidney is missing." She stated darkly, quickly moving her muzzle towards the cool night air outside. 
He cursed bitterly under his breath; he placed a hand over his muzzle, a mixture of anger and confusion appeared across his face. 

"How could have this happen?" He thundered to himself. "Right here, in my campsite?...first you and then..." His hand turned into a tight fist. The situation had gone dire, and he felt powerless for the first time in his entire life.